Year: 12th 

SAE: Sheep Production

Years in FFA: 4

FFA involvement: Extemporaneous Speaking LDE, Vet Science CDE, Livestock Evaluation CDE, Delegate, State Convention, National Convention, PR Team

Fav FFA events: National Convention, LDEs, World Dairy Expo, Farm Forum

Skills learned: public speaking, team building, time management, handwork, dedication

Plans for after HS: Planning to attend South Dakota State University for Agricultural education and Animal Science with an emphasis in production. After that I will want to become an ag teacher and run a showstock lamb operation

Year: 12th

SAE: Beef Production 

Years in FFA: 5

FFA involvement: District Creed speaking LDE, Parlimentary procedure LDE, Livestock CDE, National and State Convention, World Dairy Expo, County fair, Concessions, 8th grade night, Ag Day.

Fav FFA events: National Convention, CDE's, Officer retreat 

Skills learned: hard work, team building and bonding, diligence, problem-solving, speaking publicly 

Plans for after HS: I am attending UWRF for Animal Science with a meat animal emphasis. I am hoping to attend vet school after that to pursue a career as a large animal vet! 

Year: 11th

SAE: Goat Production

Years in FFA: 3

FFA involvement: Prepared Speaking LDE, Livestock Judging CDE, State Convention, County Fair, State Fair, Ag Day, Farm Forum, and 8th grade night!

Fav FFA events: State convention and State Fair!

Skills learned: Public Speaking, Livestock Evaluation, Leadership, Responsibility, and Commitment

Plans for after HS: I plan to attend a 4-year college and major in Animal Science with a minor in Agribusiness, then attend Veterinary school to become a Large Animal/Livestock Vet!

Year: Junior

SAE: Agriculture Education 

Years in FFA: 3

FFA involvement: Horse Evaluation and Vet Science CDE, State FFA Band Member, Agriculture Education SAE, State and National FFA Conventions

Fav FFA events: Banquet, Officer Retreat 

Skills learned: Leadership, Organization, Structure, Public Speaking 

Plans for after HS: Undecided 

Year: 10th

SAE: Undecided

Years in FFA: 1

FFA involvement: Livestock evaluation CDE, national convention, fall leadership workshop, Ag day, community service.

Fav FFA events: Ag day, officer retreat, national convention.

Skills learned: Leadership, public speaking, agricultural knowledge, structure, communication, commitment.

Plans for after HS: Undecided

Year: 10th

SAE: To be determined

Years in FFA: 1

FFA involvement: 2023 National Convention, LDE (FFA Creed Speaking), AG Day

Fav FFA events: 2024 Officer Retreat

Skills learned: Leadership, Welcomeness

Plans for after HS: Unknown

Year: 11th

SAE: Undecided

Years in FFA: 3

FFA involvement: World Dairy Expo, CDE's (Wildlife, Livestock Evaluation), and Ag Day

Fav FFA events: Ag Day

Skills learned: Leadership, livestock evaluation  

Plans for after HS: Undecided

My name is Jason Hovell, and I am excited to help our Holmen FFA members experience premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through their participation in FFA! 

At Holmen High School, I teach subjects of Ag Mechanics/Small Engines, Electricity & Electronics, Robotics, and Introduction to Tech Ed. 

Prior to the 2021-22 school year, I taught ag education classes and served as an FFA advisor for 16 years in the Independence and Marion School Districts, teaching everything from Plant & Soil Science, Animal Science, Ag Mechanics, Food Science & Processing, Landscape Design & Construction, Aquaculture, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Metal Fabrications, & more!

In high school, I was a member of the G-E-T FFA Chapter and participated in Wildlife, Forestry, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Ag Mechanics, and Soil & Land Judging CDE Teams, along with being involved with my chapter's parliamentary procedure team.

My SAE's included raising 400 rainbow trout/year in a pond/raceway system on the home farm, raising beef cattle, and working at local apple orchard, which all really opened my eyes as to how diverse our agriculture industry is. It was because of these experiences I have devoted my life helping middle school and high school students find their niche in the agriculture industry, and find career success! 

Outside of the school day, I stay connected to agriculture running a web-based agribusiness producing naturally-grown garlic on the family farm. My farm business is one of Wisconsin's largest producers of gourmet garlic, and ship my product to all 50 states, which keeps me busy in the summer months. It is through this endeavor I have come to understand what E.M. Tiffany was referring to in finding satisfaction and importance of "producing and marketing the product of our toil" in the 3rd paragraph of the FFA Creed.

I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities available to you in the FFA organization, and how adults and businesses in the Holmen School District can be advocates for agricultural education and support the local FFA chapter. The FFA is the best experience I have been a part of, and it will be for you too if you take that first step and get involved! 

Just as we read in the third paragraph of the FFA Creed by E.M. Tiffany "I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others..." 

We strive to live by these words as we lead our chapter toward success.